The mum of a young toddler with cerebral palsy says she and her daughter wouldn’t be here now had it not been for the maternity consultants at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

Joanne Inskipp gave birth to little Ava Evans nine weeks early in 2012 by emergency c-section.

She had been rushed to the Bodelwyddan hospital by ambulance in the early hours after suffering a large bleed.

Joanne, who lives in Prestatyn with fiance Todd Evans, Ava and youngest daughter Scarlett, 19 months, says the consultant told her had he not delivered Ava there and then, both of them may not have made it.

The 30-year-old is now backing a campaign to stop the downgrading of maternity services at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

She said: “At 26 weeks I suffered a bleed because my placenta was blocking the exit to my cervix, and I was rushed to Wrexham Maelor.

"After several days, they decided to transfer me to Glan Clwyd, but it took time for them to prep the ambulance with the right equipment and staff, before a half hour journey there.

“When I was 31 weeks, I suffered another bleed and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance and given an emergency c-section straight away. Afterwards the consultant told me if I’d been delayed any longer then me and Ava wouldn’t have survived.”

Ava, now three, weighed just 3lb 12oz when she was born and was kept in the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) for five weeks.

She has since been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which causes stiffness and discomfort in her legs, and means she can’t walk unaided. The family have begun a quest to raise £80,000 to take her to America for an operation which will hopefully allow the toddler to take her first steps alone.

Joanne’s fiance Todd added: “If it wasn’t for that ward, and for the doctor, Joanne and Ava wouldn’t be here.

“If her placenta would have torn open at home, it would’ve been a close call getting to Glan Clwyd, so with Wrexham, Liverpool and Bangor, it wouldn’t have happened.”